The drama queen Vashti

Hear ye, hear ye! May I have your attention PLEASE...

Raise your hand if you know a drama queen! Haha, it's sad but I'm pretty sure every hand should be raised. It's relatively safe to say these days everybody knows at least one DRAMA QUEEN.

By definition, this is a person who habitually responds to situations in a melodramatic way. In case you haven't met one by experience, I'll share a few of her characteristics. Once you're aware, they're easy to spot!

BEWARE!!! This one thrives off of drama, loves attention, prideful, arrogant, selfish, manipulative, may present a forceful personality, demanding, belittling, disobedient, unruly, discontent and so much more! They are TOXIC!

However, those traits listed above are usually secondhand to what usually entices us to be around them. These people are usually charming, witty, charismatic, FUN & BEAUTIFUL!

In the 1st chapter of Esther, we meet one just like this! Queen Vashti! The King threw a 7 day feast to show off the riches of his kingdom and near the end when his heart was merry with wine he wanted to show off his beautiful queen. Only problem was it didn't suit her desires and she rejected his call.

She was beautiful and in leadership! However, the example she was setting was destructive. Truth is discontentment is contagious! Her pride was puffed up and it ultimately cost her the royal crown. New rules were set and she was cast away.

So, we aren't powerful kings and Queens to write and rewrite rules but we can take note of who we allow in our lives. We are told in Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

Mark them and AVOID them! Though a drama queen isn't necessarily women only, it's more so than not. With that said, there's a few more words of wisdom to attain and apply.

"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." Proverbs 11:22

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:5

IF you value what you've built, your peace and your sanity then you'll accept and apply these things to your personal life! The root of drama is pride. The center of pride is "I" and so it is too the center of sin!

Haha, I hope you didn't keep your hand up throughout this read... let's face it, we all KNOW a drama queen. Many of us are wise enough to leave them to themselves. Are you?

The Word and whisps

The Word of God is so much deeper than any man made strand could ever reach.
Far more stout than the most well taught could teach.
It's truths far more rich than uncountable sands upon every created beach...
shhhhh! It's in the stillness He speaks!

Do you have His Spirit?
Been marked by His blood?
Ever journeyed to the depths at the foot of the cross?
Have you met with surrender and found humility to treasure?
Basked in this splendor?
Found a pure Love so tender?

Dare say that you live apart from this tender touch that will both brake and remake as gentle as whisps on the wings of a dove?

Friend of God

Fun conversation with Jayden this morning.

Jayden: "Wait, what!? God can be our friend?

Me: Oh yes He is

Jayden looking confused... so I explain it like this since his Dad is sitting with us.

Yes, God is our friend but kinda like your Dad, he's your friend, but he's the boss 1st. He cares about you and wants you to do right so when you do wrong he corrects you. He still likes to play and have fun with you too. It's the same way with God except He's way bigger so He's always with you. He cares about you and wants you to do right. He will always be the Boss 1st.

Then I told him about Abraham. "...Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." James 2:23

I hope our chat has blessed & encouraged you. On a personal note, do you consider God your friend?

Building up?

Building up?

"They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved." Isaiah 41:6-7

Ok, on the surface, this seems like great encouragement, right? They're telling each other to "be of good courage" which means 'be strong'. What are they building though? Actually, they're literally creating idols!

Nothing like a good Ole fashioned pat on the back! After all, the world loves it's own. We, in Christ, can learn from this too. While the world encourages & promotes evil and detestable things, we must build up one another too in the Lord, in His ways and in His Word!

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

Encouraging others is great but in which direction are they going, more of the world or in Christ? I've pondered this much lately. I encourage you to do the same. Are we willing to take a deeper look into the things & people we applaud?

Compromise and cancer

Wow! Eye opening!

While listening to the Lord He showed me quite the comparison for the modern church. It's so blatant and obvious yet sick and sly!

Many churches today correlate growth with "increase", right? For many it's about numbers... membership, attendance, salvations (repeating a prayer), baptisms, dedications and so on. "So what?" you might say, "they kept record at Pentecost and when Jesus fed the multitudes by miracles". Yes! They did. But was it the same meaning behind it then as it is now?

Let's take a look!

Today congregations all across America and even many around the world have adapted to "business structure" from planning, meetings, Finances, name it! Being in business for nearly 12 years, it's quite easy to see.

Many say, "that's not so bad, it all works to the good". Does it though? Whose good? Man's good or God's good?

Going deeper, not once did Jesus and His disciples "plan". If Jesus held a "business meeting", please correct me. Truly, I welcome it.

Deeper still, here's the portrait He painted for me.

In order for these churches to "grow in number" they've had to compromise. By this I mean little by little letting the world's ways creep in. Adding this, adding that, music styles change, ploys to bring people in change, adding teachings and doctrines, all this in essence is welcoming sin.

Ok with that said, in comparison, we can look at one of the most deadly ailments to hit a human body, CANCER! What does cancer do? Does it not mimic the very cells it attacks? Yes! Oh but there's growth! Not exactly a healthy growth, actually it's quite opposite.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15

Sadly the compromise within the church is no different than cancerous cells. Cell by cell, church by church, the good as God intended deteriorates. Each compromise allowed weakens the solid foundation it may have been initially been built upon.

The craziest part is, we've been warned by Christ Himself of this apostasy! This great falling away from His Truth! There's growth alright, a deadly compromise and it's spiritual cancer to the soul.

He said, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." Matthew 24:24-25

In essence, these things boil down to "another Jesus" being preached, embraced One who cannot save, cannot heal, cannot restore and one who does not live, cannot hear, cannot love, does not confront sin and is not the only begotten Son of the Living God!

Indeed we are living in the last days before the Son of God is sent for His perfect and spotless Bride. Upon that day, many of these so called churches will be just as full of lost, confused and hurting people as there is now!

If you've been apart of a church for some time I can guarantee apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit you will NOT recognize these things as harmful. It is God who grants the increase, yes, and without compromising Himself.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 2 Corinthians 6:17

Dare to take a step back from the known and allow the Almighty to show you His Truth? Is the gathering by which you routinely partake of truly apart of His set apart and chosen Bride or is it a dessert up "biblical" form of morality?

Knowing God is personal

I remember in my younger days a lot of people knew who I was, but not because they knew me personally; they knew me by association-- they knew others who did know me... that were close to me.

Even still with business I encounter similar situations. Many know who I am but aren't close enough to know me personally. I'm not into popularity. No, I share this because as I pondered these things the Lord spoke to my heart.

He brought this passage to mind:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23

Many know of Jesus yet very few know Him personally. Key question is: Does He know you?

He said, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14

Knowing Him is personal. Religion leads one to believe it's collective or a grapevine experience. It is not by customs, traditions nor through any other coattail experience that we are forgiven, redeemed, and set free... Come to know Christ, turn to Him. Only He has the power to save.

Will you be a stranger saying unto Him, "Lord, Lord..." only to hear those dreaded words, "I never knew you" and be eternally cast away?

Ladies---> Contentious or Quiet?

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:15

Contentious means brawling or to fight noisily, usually in a public place. Now think of the rain that goes and goes, especially in a certain area the drippings are continuous. Drip... drip... drip... After a time it becomes irritating and annoying.

I know I'm guilty of this. Praise God for showing us the right way and granting mercy & forgiveness in our stumblings! However, especially in our day women seem to enjoy causing a scene publicly. Remember, this can be social media too, doesn't have to be in the streets.

Of this I'm certain, where there is drama there is sin! Ladies, our voices do count... in the right way and in the right place. Outside of this we push others away! If you have a point to prove, in what manner will you handle it?